Risk Factors for Mental illness in the Elderly

​Mental illness has become a health concern among older individuals. The World Health Organization indicates that 15 percent of individuals over 60 have a mental disorder. Various risk factors contribute to mental illness in the elderly, including the loss of loved ones. 

Dealing with death can lead to trauma at any age. As individuals age, they may experience loss more frequently. The bereavement process can trigger anxiety and depression as individuals face illness and mortality while adjusting to the loss of loved ones.

Loss of mobility can also contribute to mental illness in older individuals. It limits independence and freedom and can lead to additional physical ailments, such as chronic pain, making mental health concerns worse.

Lastly, substance use, including alcohol, drugs, and medications, can also exacerbate mental illness in older individuals. The substances alter brain chemistry and mood, affecting emotional processing and expression. Furthermore, many pain medications have side effects that may contribute to symptoms of depression or anxiety.

Dr. Robert Kohn, Some Categories of Suicide

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